Kep

Traveling to Kep and seeing lots of fairly thin Brahmans along the way reminded me of the school production when we sang about the pharaoh's dream: "the thin cows ate the fat cows, which I thought would do them good... But it didn't make them fatter like such a monster supper should."

(For the record it was Joseph and the amazing technicolor dream coat; form two, Chisnallwood Intermediate; I was Potiphar.)

Why this song?  I suppose, apart from seeing all those drought-affected cattle, and my endless memory for weird songs, it's about the extremes of wealth and poverty that co-exist here. 

In particular, what it's like to be here as a wealthy tourist, enjoying a luxury holiday, hidden away beneath the palms, on the coast, between the blue sea and the even bluer sky, while so many Cambodian workers hang in there for another long, hot day.

Roxane Gay talks about privacy as a privilege - and it's so very evident here.  Many people live out their daily lives in more or less on the streets.  Privacy is indeed a luxury, held by the few beyond the gaze of the many.  It's uncomfortable and confronting - and something I'll be mulling for a while yet.

Not withstanding all of this, we had the most amazing 24 hours in Kep.  Beautiful house, wonderful people, amazing pools, and a dinner that felt like it fell out of the pages of Vogue traveller.

Yes, that's our table out there at the end of the pier...

There was a candlelit pier, a linen-clad table, more beautiful food and drink than you could shake a stick at, not to mention dancing under the starlit sky.  It was certainly a birthday to remember - a very happy 60th, JT - and many more.

PS - if you don't know about it already, check out Union Aid.  They do awesome work in Asia, supporting workers in their communities: unionaid.org.nz 

A few more pics of our amazing villa - it was even better than you think...

And a couple more party shots, because it was fabulous...